Latest Mission updates

Ariane 5 March 20, 2014

A 24-hour delay for Arianespace’s dual-payload Ariane 5 mission

High winds at ground level prevented today’s transfer of the Ariane 5 launcher for Arianespace’s Flight VA216 mission with ASTRA 5B and Amazonas 4A, resulting in a 24-hour postponement of this mission from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

The Ariane 5 and its two telecommunications satellite payloads remain in a safe condition inside the Final Assembly Building.  Its rollout from the facility to the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone is now scheduled for tomorrow, enabling the countdown to begin for a liftoff on Saturday, March 22 at 7:04 p.m. local time during a launch window of 58 minutes.

ASTRA 5B is located in the Ariane 5 payload “stack’s” upper position and will be deployed first during the 34-minute flight sequence.  It was built by Airbus Defence and Space for SES, and will operate from a 31.5 deg. East orbital slot.

Installed in the payload stack’s lower position, Amazonas 4A is an Orbital Sciences Corporation-produced satellite.  It will be operated by HISPASAT from an orbital position of 61 deg. West.

Ariane 5 March 20, 2014

Ariane 5 launcher hardware arrives for Arianespace’s next Automated Transfer Vehicle mission

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